Edited by: Cpt Placeholder on 17/08/2011 11:13:29So I haven't been in an airplane for a while but apparently in many, probably all, countries customs may inspect the data on anything that can carry data. They may also ask you to relinquish your passwords and confiscate if you refuse.

It's probably different in each country so it would be good to know how it's handled in each country and whether it's inbound or outbound.

I read that America, Japan and Thailand like to peek at your data.The only country with a clear purpose for the search seems to be Australia. Apparently, according to the internets, you need to declare whether you have **** with you or not, and they do search for (illegal) ****, but you will get fined regardless if you have **** with you without having declared it.I'm guessing those were inbound, though I don't know.

Did you ever have to allow customs to scan your data? I'm also wondering how they react to GNU/Linux/BSD.

Last time I travelled, airport security took my laptop, to find out that it had never been used and the OS hadn't been installed (it was that new), compensation letter was amusing and I got £54 for all my troubles.

I've flown around several European airports and all I've had to do was take my laptop out of my bag, put it in the tray, so that it goes through the x-ray scanner separately from everything else.No one has ever taken it away or asked me to fire it up and log in and browse my data.

Edited by: Culmen on 17/08/2011 13:32:58I've flown back and forth in/and out of the US and Asia for a number of times.Once to AustraliaNever had my computer or hard drives accessed once.Never seen a request for data either.Absolute most I've been told to do is turn it on and that was a long time ago.

That being said my mother did have customs demand data from her computer once.But that was one instance in LA, she got cornered by a gang of philipino customs agents who were looking for any excuse to hassle an asian person.

Had other incidents with LAX customs personally. Never land there unless you're white or an American citizen.Chicago, New York , Washington DC, Never had a single problem with immigration there.

Originally by:Sader RykaneYou really think they'd try that **** in a country like the United States?

Well that depends on how much you agree with the lawyers and judges defending the practice. They claim since they're doing border searches, you're not IN the United States and the 4th amendment does not apply.

Edited by: VKhaun Vex on 17/08/2011 16:45:49Why would anything important be on your laptop?

Cloud Computing ftw. Host your data (and ****) somewhere else and get it over the net when you need it, then upload it again when finished working and delete it from local. They can ask for the PW to your laptop all they want. All they'll find is basically a blank windows install... maybe with a game on it for the flight.

Besides, it's not a crack team of computer hacker experts searching your computer in a laboratory, it's the same *******s who run metal detector wands over people for a living. At worst, it's the SENIOR metal-detector-wand-waver with an extra little star on his uniform or a shinier badge or something.

If you're determined to carry sensitive data past these savy professionals just make a little windows partition with your games on it that the system boots to by default. They'll never see your work or financial stuff (or ****) on the 2nd partition unless they hit a key and choose boot options. They won't. They'll watch the black screen and white text go by, and then order you to give them the password to the windows partition with the games. You acquiesce like a good little sheep and they think they've done a good day's work protecting the world by invading your privacy.

Originally by:VKhaun VexEdited by: VKhaun Vex on 17/08/2011 16:45:49Why would anything important be on your laptop?

Cloud Computing ftw. Host your data (and ****) somewhere else and get it over the net when you need it, then upload it again when finished working and delete it from local. They can ask for the PW to your laptop all they want. All they'll find is basically a blank windows install... maybe with a game on it for the flight.

Besides, it's not a crack team of computer hacker experts searching your computer in a laboratory, it's the same *******s who run metal detector wands over people for a living. At worst, it's the SENIOR metal-detector-wand-waver with an extra little star on his uniform or a shinier badge or something.

If you're determined to carry sensitive data past these savy professionals just make a little windows partition with your games on it that the system boots to by default. They'll never see your work or financial stuff (or ****) on the 2nd partition unless they hit a key and choose boot options. They won't. They'll watch the black screen and white text go by, and then order you to give them the password to the windows partition with the games. You acquiesce like a good little sheep and they think they've done a good day's work protecting the world by invading your privacy.

I have flown all over Europe & Canada and only once was I asked to just turn my netbook on it prove it worked.

But!

Twice out of 4 flights into the USA I have had 'fun' with US customs:

Flying into Washington not only did I have to fire up the netbook, but they insisted I plugged in my USB pens and portable HD

Flying into Seattle again they got me to fire up my Netbook, but the battery was flat. So I was marched to an office to plug in the mains adapter, held up my party by 20 minutes. To add insult to injury, customs had put a knife through the side of my Ski Boot bag. I know it was them as they left a note inside stating it was my fault for the damage as I hadn't used a US customs padlock on the zip. I use a cable tie, hell customs in Europe cut & replaced it. The Swiss even gave me 8 more ties after they checked inside

That and other experiences that friends & colleagues have had with US customs means we NOT going back to the States if we can avoid it!

Plus for information we are all over 40, British & White.

After watching US customs search a Brummie Asian & his family I was surprised the family didn't sue for sexual harassment!

If that is how they treat Allies, no wonder most of the world hates them

I have flown all over Europe & Canada and only once was I asked to just turn my netbook on it prove it worked.

But!

Twice out of 4 flights into the USA I have had 'fun' with US customs:

Flying into Washington not only did I have to fire up the netbook, but they insisted I plugged in my USB pens and portable HD

Flying into Seattle again they got me to fire up my Netbook, but the battery was flat. So I was marched to an office to plug in the mains adapter, held up my party by 20 minutes. To add insult to injury, customs had put a knife through the side of my Ski Boot bag. I know it was them as they left a note inside stating it was my fault for the damage as I hadn't used a US customs padlock on the zip. I use a cable tie, hell customs in Europe cut & replaced it. The Swiss even gave me 8 more ties after they checked inside

That and other experiences that friends & colleagues have had with US customs means we NOT going back to the States if we can avoid it!

Plus for information we are all over 40, British & White.

After watching US customs search a Brummie Asian & his family I was surprised the family didn't sue for sexual harassment!

If that is how they treat Allies, no wonder most of the world hates them

People in this country love to **** with anyone who is "different" from them, especially if they have any form of "authority" over someone. If I could move somewhere else where people actually try to accord you some sort of respect when dealing with you first, instead of treating you like an inconvenience by your mere existence, I would.

Originally by:VKhaun VexWhy would anything important be on your laptop?

I use my laptop as my main machine (though I would have used some netbook for travel) but even if the data is not really important, all data loss is painful, especially settings and configuration. And having someone look through your personal stuff is never pleasant.

Originally by:VKhaun VexBesides, it's not a crack team of computer hacker experts searching your computer in a laboratory

On the initial checks, you certainly seem to be right. All reports seem to indicate they're not even used to any other operating system than Windows. However, it may get confiscated, I don't know what they do with it then.

Hiding data is trivial (for me at least) but one may be unprepared and suffer the consequences.

Remote Desktop FTW (and, actually, is a requirement due to some of the stuff I run at work).

One nice side benefit is that I can continue to carry a 2005 notebook for work-related stuff. I almost considered upgrading last year but Win7 gave it a new life (and better drivers for USB->Serial converters).

Originally by:BarakkusPeople in this country love to **** with anyone who is "different" from them, especially if they have any form of "authority" over someone. If I could move somewhere else where people actually try to accord you some sort of respect when dealing with you first, instead of treating you like an inconvenience by your mere existence, I would.

i have been all over the world and have yet to find a place like this, especially when dealing with customs. i wish they would just greet me like they worked in McDonalds or Walmart.

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